Witch For A Week – Kaye Umansky

June 23, 2017

I don’t think that you are ever too old to enjoy a children’s book. I have always read them even before I had children of my own to read them too. There is something so comforting about a good children’s book and the fun of them isn’t only for little ones. Lucas is nearly six so we are starting to leave the picture books behind and delve into the world of chapter books. I cannot tell you how much I love this, after years of reading the same things over and over I love the chance to share some of my favourite stories with him and we are also discovering new ones together. I was lucky enough to be sent a preview copy of Witch For A Week by Kaye Umansky. I think I must be one of the only people of my generation not to have read her Pongwiffy books, my husband knew them straight away so they are something I will be looking for now.

Witch For A Week comes out this October, just in time for Halloween, and it is being illustrated by the wonderful Ashley King. Do go and have a peep at his Instagram, his illustrations are fantastic. I’ve tried a few new children’s chapter books over the last few months, trying to find things to read with Lucas. I’m looking for something we both like to read, some books are just too out there and full on, they’re so difficult to read out loud. Witch For A Week is perfect for reading aloud but I even enjoyed just reading it myself. I’m not sure what it is about it that reminds me of stories from my own childhood, it’s sweet and charming with just enough quirky asides to make you chuckle. It makes me wish I was a six year old reading it for the first time but even as an adult I was smiling the whole way through.

The story starts when Elsie Pickle inadvertently becomes a house sitter for Magenta Sharp, the local witch. She is tasked with minding her tower, her talking raven and dealing with various ‘witchy’ duties over a week. She meets all sorts of unusual characters as the week goes on and has to use her charm and wits to keep everyone happy, all this whilst having an adventure of her own. I loved all the characters, from the sarcastic raven and the scruffy dog, to the girl determined to be a wood sprite. However, Elsie really is the perfect heroine and I didn’t want her adventure to end.

I’m looking forward to starting this with Lucas and I know he is going to be as captivated as I was. I’m hoping there may be a few more tales to tell about Elsie and her friends in the future as I don’t want to leave her world just yet. I finished it a couple of days ago and I still smile when I think of it. Kaye Umansky totally wraps you up in her world and characters and thanks to Ashley’s beautiful illustrations we can see them brought to life. If you are looking for a magical, funny and heart warming book then give Witch For A Week a try, it’s definitely not just for kids.

Witch For A Week comes out on the 5th October and is available for pre-order now. Thanks to the lovely Ashley King for sending me this preview copy – it is just wonderful!

2 Comments

I know, it always feels like such a treat to be sent a book. I actually won one of the illustrators prints a couple of years ago and since then he has done a few children’s books, I think his drawings are wonderful! xx